Ramjet UAV Deployable Antenna Arms Bistatic Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bistatic radar systems employing UAVs with conventional propulsion systems face reduced sensor performance and speed limitations, making it difficult to effectively detect targets within contested airspace without putting the mothership at risk.
Innovation Solution
A supersonic UAV equipped with a ramjet engine and deployable antenna arms that transition from a retracted position to an extended position for boresight alignment and air braking, allowing for bistatic radar pulse reception and extended target detection range while keeping the mothership outside the radar range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional propulsion systems are used in UAVs, then the system is simpler to operate, but the sensor performance and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the propulsion parameter from conventional engines to a ramjet engine, enabling supersonic cruise speeds. This parameter change directly addresses the speed limitation while accepting the increased system complexity as a necessary trade-off for achieving the required sensor performance and detection range.
2Measurement precision
If the mothership enters contested airspace to detect targets, then target detection capability is improved, but the mothership is exposed to risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection function by deploying a separate UAV from the mothership. The mothership remains in safe airspace while the UAV enters contested airspace to perform the actual target detection, thus separating the safe command function from the hazardous sensing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV acts as an intermediary between the mothership and the target in contested airspace. It receives radar illumination from the mothership, detects reflected pulses from targets, and transmits data back, enabling the mothership to detect targets without directly entering the hazardous zone.
3Loss of time
If the UAV remains at supersonic speed, then ingress and egress time is reduced, but antenna alignment and signal reception are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna arms are designed to be deployable rather than fixed, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the antenna configuration based on operational phase. During high-speed transit, arms remain retracted; during detection phases, arms deploy to achieve proper boresight alignment, making the system adaptable to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna arms are pre-positioned in a retracted configuration for supersonic cruise, and deployed in advance of the detection phase to ensure proper alignment is achieved before signal reception begins. This preliminary positioning ensures both high-speed performance and detection accuracy are optimized at appropriate times.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables high-speed ingress and egress into target areas, enhancing sensor performance and range by using the ramjet for supersonic cruise and deployable antennas for speed reduction and boresight alignment, thereby extending the effective radar detection range without exposing the mothership to contested airspace.
Implementation Method 1
A supersonic UAV equipped with a ramjet engine
Implementation Method 2
Antenna arms are extended to act as air brakes reducing speed
Implementation Method 3
a passive radar receiver adapted to bistatically receive reflected radar pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A system for bistatic radar target detection employs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a ramjet providing supersonic cruise of the UAV. Deployable antenna arms support a passive radar receiver for bistatic reception of reflected radar pulses. The UAV operates with a UAV flight profile in airspace beyond a radar range limit. The deployable antenna arms have a first retracted position for supersonic cruise and are adapted for deployment to a second extended position acting as an airbrake and providing boresight alignment of the radar receiver. A mothership aircraft has a radar transmitter for transmitting radar pulses and operates with an aircraft flight profile outside the radar range limit. A communications data link operably interconnects the UAV and the tactical mothership aircraft, transmitting data produced by the bistatic reception of reflected radar pulses in the UAV radar antenna to the mothership aircraft.